IS PAT SAJAK GAY?Conservative ‘Wheel of Fortune’ host toes party line on same-sex marriage and — just like exec producer Merv Griffin — pleads the Fifth on sexual identity

Wheel of Fortune” spun into North Texas last weekend — shooting 15 episodes at the Nokia Theater in Grand Prairie. On Sunday, five episodes of “North Texas Families week” were taped before a live studio audience. The WOF production is impressive — with a 100-member crew, the tapings speed along at fast clip.

Backstage, right before going onstage, longtime host Pat Sajak granted a lighting-quick interview with Dallas Voice. For a guy who’s 60, Sajak is one smooth dude — friendly, witty and a natural at live television. He’s also an outspoken conservative.

Since its 1975 debut, WOF is the second longest-running game show in American history, behind “The Price is Right.” Entertainer-entrepreneur Merv Griffin created “Wheel of Fortune” as well as “Jeopardy.”

A pall bearer at Ronald Regan’s funeral, Griffin has been registering some curious bleeps on the gaydar — especially after the mogul’s secretary-bodyguard Brent Plott filed a $200 million palimony suit against Griffin in 1991. That same year, Griffin was sued for sexual harassment by Denny Terrio, host of “Dance Fever,” another Griffin-created show. Terrio’s case was also thrown out.

Griffin hasn’t disavowed being gay — nor has he acknowledged his sexuality.

So how gay-friendly is “Wheel of Fortune?” Sajak responds — before he was quickly whisked away.

On your website, the “Sajak Says” page is where you air your conservative opinions. I’m sure LGBT “Wheel of Fortune” fans wonder where you fall on the side of gay rights.

I’m in favor of rights for all. I always feel nervous about trying to draw a specific bill of rights for a specific groups. And I’m not in favor of discriminating anyone for any reason.

Many conservatives unite with Christian fundamentalists on the issue of gay marriage. Does Pat Sajak?

It’s a sea-change issue. But there’s a very long tradition — if that’s what we want to call it — at work here. It may end up changing. But there are certainly some intolerant people who don’t want to see any changes. But before we take that jump, let’s talk about it.First, let’s examine the ramifications — before we overturn a tradition that’s thousands of years old. And I don’t think that necessarily makes me a bigot. I’m not in favor of doing it tomorrow. I don’t know some of the roads it takes us down. I’m in favor of talking about it and seeing if that’s the direction we ought to go in. It’s recently become a hot issue. And I don’t think the heat of the moment is the best time to make any major changes.

“Wheel of Fortune” has so many thematic shows with paired up contestants. Today you’re shooting North Texas Families. Even if you believe that same-sex marriage might be little undercooked right now, is there any chance in 2006 that there could be Gay Partners Week on “Wheel of Fortune?”

I don’t know. Only because we don’t ask our contestants. My guess is that we have gay players — if not on a daily basis then on a weekly basis. We don’t need to have a Gay Couples Week because we have Couples Weeks. And I would be perfectly happy to have gay couples on our Couples Week.

The gay community would probably love to claim “Wheel of Fortune” as one of America’s most successful gay-created gameshows because Merv Griffin is the executive producer.I wasn’t aware of that.

You’re not aware that Merv Griffin might be gay?No, I have heard that. But I care very little whether he is or not. I guess the question is “Are you only gay if you live the ‘gay lifestyle?’” I may or may not be heterosexual. I’ve never made that announcement, and I don’t expect to.

The North Texas-filmed episodes are scheduled to air in November.​“Wheel of Fortune” airs Monday through Saturday at 6:30 p.m. on CBS, channel 11.